Memory power management

ABSTRACT

A memory system is described, where a plurality of memory modules is connected to a memory controller. The power status of each of the memory modules is controlled, depending on the functions being performed by the memory module. When no read or write operation is being performed on a particular memory module, at least a portion of the circuitry may be operated in a lower power mode. A memory circuit associated with the memory module may be placed in a low power mode by disabling a clock. The memory circuit data integrity may be secured by issuing refresh commands while when the memory circuit is in the lower power mode, by enabling the clock, issuing the refresh command, and disabling the clock after completion of the refresh operation.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/405,083, filed on Apr. 17, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,726,064 which claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/674,189, filed on Apr. 21, 2005, and to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/698,626, filed on Jul. 11, 2005. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/079,364, filed on Mar. 26, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,887 which claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/920,737, filed on Mar. 29, 2007. This application also claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/967,101, filed on Aug. 31, 2007. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a memory system, a module of a memory system, and a method for managing the power consumption of the memory system.

BACKGROUND

A typical computer system includes a central processing unit, input/output devices, and memory. The central processing unit (CPU) may include logical and arithmetic processing circuits, and may also include a high speed memory for instructions and data being immediately used by the CPU. Additional memory is used to store additional instructions and data used by the computer system, and the memory may be of a volatile or non-volatile form, and be of various types, depending on cost, access speed, storage capacity, access time and throughput considerations. Overall, the amount of memory in a computer system often substantially exceeds the quantity of instructions or data that are accessed by the CPU on a short term basis.

SUMMARY

A memory system is disclosed, including a first memory module and a second memory module, each memory module having a controller configurable to issue a refresh command, a bus interface, and a memory circuit. The first and second memory modules are in communication with a memory controller through a root memory module, and a power status of the first memory module is autonomous of a power status of the second memory module.

In an aspect, a memory system is described, including memory modules having a module controller, a bus interface and a memory circuit. The memory modules are connectable to a memory controller through a root module, and erase operations of a group of the memory modules are coordinated by the memory controller.

A memory module of a memory system having a plurality of memory modules includes, a bus interface, a controller configured to issue a memory refresh command; and a volatile memory circuit. At least one of the bus interface, the controller, or the volatile memory circuit is placed in a lower power state when data is not being read or written to the memory circuit, and a refresh operation of the volatile memory circuit is initiated when the memory circuit is in the lower power state.

A method of managing a memory system includes the steps of: providing a plurality of memory modules, the modules having a bus interface, a memory circuit, and a controller; providing a bus, the bus providing connectivity between the plurality of memory modules and a memory controller. For each memory module, determining if a read or a write operation is being performed on the memory circuit of the memory module and when a read or a write operation is not being performed, placing at least the memory circuit of the memory module in a low power state and issuing a refresh command to the memory circuit.

A computer program product is disclosed, the product being storable in a memory, and including instructions executable by a controller of a memory module to determine if a read or a write operation is requested or in progress on a local memory; place the local memory in a lower power state when read or write operations are not being requested or being performed on the local memory; and, issue a refresh command to the local memory causing the local memory to perform a refresh operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a memory module having a configurable switching element (CSE);

FIG. 2 is a portion of a memory system having a branching tree architecture;

FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram for the CSE;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a memory module having a plurality of memory circuits;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a commercial memory circuit;

FIG. 6 is a state transition diagram for a memory circuit;

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of a memory system, showing memory modules used in a RAID group, and the changing status of each memory module when the memory is operated so as to permit reading of 4 memory modules simultaneously; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a plurality of memory modules of a memory system arranged in a tree structure with multiple roots.

DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments may be better understood with reference to the drawings, but these examples are not intended to be of a limiting nature. Like numbered elements in the same or different drawings perform equivalent functions. Elements may be either numbered or designated by acronyms, or both, and the choice between the representation is made merely for clarity, so that an element designated by a numeral, and the same element designated by an acronym or alphanumeric indicator should not be distinguished on that basis.

When describing a particular example, the example may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every example may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. This should not be taken as a suggestion or implication that the features, structure or characteristics of two or more examples should not or could not be combined, except when such a combination is explicitly excluded. When a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an example, a person skilled in the art may give effect to such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other examples, whether or not explicitly described.

Where specific hardware architectures or operating system characteristics are described herein, they should be understood to be examples only, so as to facilitate the description of the subject matter of the application, and not as a limitation on the scope of the application. Memory systems are undergoing continued development, and the specific characteristics of a memory module, such as bus connection, operation speed, capacity, power consumption, electronic technology, and the like, are merely for convenience in description.

Among the types of memory which may be used in a computer system, some of the memory may be described as main memory, and may be of a volatile or non-volatile type. Such memory may often be thought of as random access memory, where any memory location may be read independently of any other memory location, and the memory may indeed be organized so as to permit such access. However, many computer operating systems access main memory in blocks of data, known as cache lines, which are transferred to a higher-speed-access cache memory associated with the central processing unit (CPU). A typical cache line may be 128 bytes, however, the size of the cache line may be greater or smaller than this value. Some memory types can be read from, or written to, individual memory addresses in a random manner. Other memory types may be accessed in a block manner.

Where memory such as flash memory is used, the memory product may have a limitation that the minimum size of a block of data that can be read is, for example, a page of 512 bytes, or some other size, which may be larger or smaller. Not all of the data that is read from the memory may be transmitted to the cache or destination.

Data being stored in a memory may be of sufficient importance that a loss of data due to a memory failure, power failure, or a transient event needs to be avoided. Apart from providing error correcting codes (ECC) associated with the data storage and transmission, the data may be stored in a redundant format, or otherwise backed up. When the redundant data is stored in the same portion of the memory system, such as main memory, a technique called RAID (originally redundant array of inexpensive disks), where the data is partitioned amongst a plurality of memory modules in a manner whereby a data word may be reconstructed from the remaining data in case of a transient or permanent failure of an element of the memory system.

Data may be further backed up or stored on rotating magnetic media (disk drives), magnetic tapes, and other media. These media typically have longer access times and lesser throughput than the memory types used as main memory. Additional memory, similar to main memory may be used, having access times closer to that typical of main memory than the backup media, and such memory modules may be called “memory appliances.” Herein, the general term memory or memory system will be used for convenience. However, the examples herein would be understood by persons of skill in the art to be applicable to main memory, memory modules, memory appliances, or to any memory array, or the like.

A memory system may include a plurality of memory modules connected through a bus system to a CPU. Intermediate between the CPU and the memory system may be a memory controller, bridge, or the like, which may be considered to be either part of the CPU, the memory system, or a separate function. A memory bus may generally be described as an electrical interconnection between the CPU, or a memory controller MC, or the like, and a memory system comprised of memory modules MM. A description of a bus system may be found, for example in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/405,083. However, many other bus systems are known and may be used with the apparatus and method described herein.

In an example, the memory system may be considered to have one or more “root” modules, where a root module is the memory module proximate to the memory controller. As there may be more than one computer or memory controller, a memory system may have more than one root module. For simplicity of explanation, the description herein uses a single root module as an example.

A bus may carry for example, commands (such as READ, WRITE) from the MC to a MM, data read from the MM to the MC, and data written to the MM from the MC. Other commands, responses and status information are often carried over the bus. In some situations some of the information is carried over other transport mechanisms, which may be another bus, or a point-to-point connection; this may be called “out of band” signaling. It may also possible for data to be transferred between memory modules MM without passing through the MC.

The speed with which data can be transferred between the memory modules of a memory system and the CPU, through a single root and MC, may be termed the bus capacity. The bus capacity may be expressed in GB/s (gigabytes/second). Measurement of the bus capacity is often done by computer programs known as benchmark programs, so as to take into account any inefficiencies (so-called “overhead”) in the operation. Different benchmark programs, having different objectives may yield differing results. Herein, the raw bus capacity is used for convenience of description, and a person of skill in the art will understand how to adapt this description to a particular memory system or optimization. The raw bus capacity may be estimated as the width of the data portion of the data bus in bits, multiplied by the clock rate. As an example, a 16 bit wide bus with a bit rate of 1 Gb/s would be said to have a raw bus capacity of ((16/8)×1×10⁹)=2 GB/s. Providing that the memory modules can read out data at at least this composite rate, the raw bus capacity at the root may be fully used in transferring data from the memory system to the CPU.

A memory module in a memory system may include a bus interface and individual memory circuits. Various bus systems and memory circuits are known, or are being developed. While a detailed example is provided below, the form of bus interface or the specific type or architecture of the memory components on the memory module should not be considered as a limitation.

In an example, the memory module MM may be as shown in FIG. 1. The memory module may include memory circuits M and a bus interface, which may be, for example, the CSE (configurable switching element) of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/405,083. This bus interface may include the electrical and protocol interface to the bus, as well as a controller and local memory. Groups of lines of a bus may be organized as a port. The memory module may have a single input port, and a single output port, in the upstream and the downstream directions, as may be typical for memory modules that are intended for a linear bus architecture, or may have an upstream port (port 1), and two or more downstream ports (ports 2 and 3), for use in a branching or tree-type memory system. In an aspect, a port may have bi-directional properties so as to be capable of moving data towards and away from the root module.

Each memory module may have a plurality of memory circuits, and the memory circuits may have differing internal organizations, electrical technologies, and grouping organizations depending on the specific technology used or, for example, changing industry standards and protocols. A memory circuit may be organized at a high level so as to be capable of reading or writing data (which may include executable code instructions) in a form usable by the computer system. Often the data size is a byte, which is 8 binary bits. As such, the capacity of a memory circuit, which may be one or more integrated circuit or similar devices, may be described in bytes: for example 1 GB (gigabyte)=10⁹ bytes. (Without loss of generality, a distinction is not intended where a decimal approximation to an actual binary quantity is meant; for example 1 KB=1024 bytes.)

A memory circuit may be said to have a memory bandwidth. Again, there are various standards by which the bandwidth is measured, and for simplicity a raw bandwidth is used in this description. The raw bandwidth may be the width of the output data bus time the memory output clock speed. A contemporary memory circuit, such as a personal computer (PC) DIMM with a 64 bit bus interface (comprised, for example, of 8 8-bit wide DDR400 memory modules), may have a maximum raw memory bandwidth of about 3200 MB/s.

FIG. 2 shows the use of a plurality of memory modules in a binary tree of order n, where only one of the branches of the tree is shown. The size of such a tree, when fully populated with memory modules is (2^(n)−1). In a situation where each of the memory modules MM (0, 1, 4, 8, 16) in a branch is transmitting data to the memory controller MC, and passing through MM₀, the total raw memory bandwidth supplying the data to the MC is 5×3200 MB/s, where each of the memory modules is considered to have one memory circuit with a bandwidth of 3200 MB/s. In this example, the capacity of any data bus linking electrically adjacent memory modules is considered to be the same and may be, for example, 16 GB/s. As such, when the data being read from each of the memory modules is merged at the MM₀ upstream port interfacing with the MC, the data bandwidth of the data being read from each of the memory modules is cumulative, and the cumulative data rate is 16 GB/s. That is, the memory bandwidth may fully occupy the bus bandwidth, in this example.

Further, each of the memory modules may have a plurality of memory circuits, and the actual data bandwidth of the memory circuits on an individual memory module MM may therefore exceed the memory bandwidth of an individual memory circuit.

In the example of FIG. 2, where only one of the branches of the binary tree is shown, having 5 memory modules, there are another 26 memory modules that may have the capability of providing data to the memory controller MC. However, in this example, the bus interface to the memory controller, with a bus capacity, cannot pass additional data from other modules, as the bus capacity at the has been reached.

In an aspect, data may be transferred between other memory modules in the memory system even if the bus capacity of the bus link between MM₀ and the MC has been reached, providing that the transfer of data is performed over other links, such as between MM₄ and MM₉ which may not presently be fully utilized. Such transfers may be useful in memory maintenance, such as relating to reconstruction of RAID groups, or in transferring data from a slower memory module to a faster memory module, as where both DRAM and flash, for example, are used in a memory system.

Where a memory module is not being used for the purposes of passing data from one module to another or to the root, or is not being accessed, for example, for the purposes of reading or writing data to a memory circuit on the memory module, some of the circuitry of the memory module may be placed in a low-power state, so as to reduce power consumption and heat generation. Such a state may be termed a memory module idle state (MMI). The MMI state may include interrupting the operation of various clocks, disabling some or all of the links or interfaces connecting to other memory modules, or by placing some or all of the memory circuits in a lower-power-consumption state. Thus, the MMI state may be considered to be capable of having sub-states, depending on which specific aspects of the circuitry are placed in a lower-power-consumption state. Functions that may be performed in the MMI state may include, for example maintaining clock synchronization between memory modules, determining whether the memory module is being accessed, responding to in-band or out-of-band commands, refreshing the memory and the like.

When a memory module is being used for the purposes of passing data from one module to another or to the root, and is not currently being accessed for the purposes of reading or writing data to one or more memory circuits on the memory module, the circuitry of a memory circuit may be placed in a low-power state, so as to reduce power consumption and heat generation. Such a state may be termed a memory circuit idle state (MI). In this state, the circuitry of the CSE, or memory interface, may be in an active (MMA) state, at least in part, receiving and transmitting data between memory modules, and performing whatever other maintenance functions are needed. However the memory circuit remains in a low-power state. The MI state is one in which the data stored in the memory is preserved so that when the memory circuit is placed in a memory circuit active (MA) state, the previously stored data may be read from the memory circuit. Alternatively, data may be written to the memory circuit. Thus, the MI state may exist when the overall memory module MM is in the MA or MMI states. Table I summarizes the some of the state conditions for this example.

TABLE 1 Power State CSE Memory Circuit consumption Memory Module Active Idle (MI) medium Active (MMA) and data in transit only Memory Module Idle Idle (MI) low Idle (MMI) Memory Module Active Active (MA) high Active (MMA) and either reading or writing data to local memory

In this description, only one memory circuit per memory module has been considered. However, where more than one memory circuit is present on a memory module, each of the memory circuits may be active, or idle, depending on whether data is being written or read from the specific memory circuit.

FIG. 3 shows a state diagram for the CSE of a MM. The diagram does not show aspects of the operation of a CSE that relate to initialization, maintenance of clock synchronization, configuration of the CSE, and the like, which are generally considered to be overhead operations, and are incidental to the functions of the memory system of reading, writing and transmitting data. Such overhead functions may be performed while the CSE is in an idle, or low power, state. The idle state may be entered when there is no data to be read, written or transmitted by or through the memory module. The idle state is a lower power state than the active states, however, such functions as clock synchronization, and the like, may be periodically performed.

The CSE is used in this example as a local controller, and may include, for example, a microprocessor or similar computing device, scratch and program memory, various clocks, including a memory refresh clock, and interfaces to the bus and to the memory. Some of the functions may be performed by discrete circuits, by more than one processor, clock, or the like, and all of the components may not be in a single electronic package.

The term “low power state” or “idle state” may refer to any one of a plurality of operating conditions where the power consumption of a circuit or portion thereof is reduced by temporarily disabling or limiting a function, slowing a clock rate, or the like, in response to a schedule, to received commands, to sensing the state of another circuit, or the like. The examples herein are not intended to limit the number or characteristics of low-power states that may be configured or used, not the combinations of low-power states that are possible.

In an aspect, the presence of a routing or command signal may be detected by a signal presence indicator or, for example, by maintaining, for example, one lane of the bus interface, or a signal presence indicator, active so that routing signals may be received, interpreted, or forwarded. Where a signal presence indicator, or the routing signal, contains information relating to a function of the local memory module, the routing or command is interpreted and an appropriate action performed. Where the routing is such that the data or command is not intended for the local module, a portion of the CSE may be activated so as to pass the command or data to an appropriate output port, and then the CSE may return to the idle state. Although not shown, other states may exist, so that, for example, the reverse bus path may be pre-activated for a response from a downstream module after a predetermined period of time.

Where the routing information or command is intended for the local module, the command may, for example, be for a read or a write operation. The memory may be in a low-power or memory-circuit-idle (MI) state, and may need to be activated in order to perform the function of the command. Typically such a function would be a read or a write operation, but other memory operations may also be performed. After performing the read or write operation, which may be for a data element of a specified size, such as a byte, sector, page, or block, the memory may be returned to a low-power state by an operation which may be termed closing the memory, after which the CSE and/or the MM may return to an idle state.

FIG. 4 illustrates a memory module MM having a CSE or controller 50 and a plurality of memory circuits M. Each of the memory circuits M may have the capability of storing data in a form where a byte, word, group of words, page, or the like, may be accessed for reading or writing data on the basis of routing information or commands received by the memory module and interpreted by the CSE. For example, where data is being written or read from memory circuit M₁, memory circuits M₂-M₅ may remain in an idle state.

In an aspect, the memory circuit may utilize flash memory or dynamic random access memory (DRAM), as examples of non-volatile and volatile memory types. Flash memory is known to retain data stored therein even when the power supply is interrupted. However, DRAM memory circuits store the information as electrical charge in capacitive circuit, and the electrical charge slowly leaks from the capacitor due to resistive paths. Hence, in order to avoid loss of the data in memory, the power supply needs to be present, and the charge on each capacitive element needs to be renewed (refreshed) within a specific time intervals. The process may be termed “refreshing the memory”. Maintaining the power supply may be performed at a module or system level by a battery, an uninterruptible power supply, or the like. However, a power supply that is dependent on the prime power, and does not have a power supply maintenance capability, such as a back-up battery or other uninterruptible power supply, may also be used. In such an instance, a power supply prime power failure may result in loss of data stored in the DRAM memory, or data held in intermediate memories, and such data may be recoverable if a back-up memory is used.

Refreshing the memory is usually performed at the memory circuit, although the process may be controlled or initiated elsewhere, for example, by the local controller such as the CSE, or by the memory controller MC.

For purposes of illustration, and not by way of limitation, a DRAM memory circuit may be one which meets the requirements of double-data-rate DRAM, as published by JEDEC, and which may be currently in use in industry standardized DIMM (dual in-line memory module) products. An example of a memory circuit which may be used in such a product is a MT48LC128M4A2 synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) device, available from Micron Technology, Inc. (Boise, Id.). A block diagram of the memory circuit, as published by Micron, is shown in FIG. 5. Each of the memory banks in the memory circuit is organized as 8182 rows by 4096 columns by four bits. Read and write accesses to a DRAM circuit are burst oriented. That is, accesses start at a selected location and continue for a programmed number of locations in a programmed sequence. For purposes of this specification, the general operation of the DRAM circuit shown in FIG. 5 would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, and only specific aspects of the operation are discussed in detail.

Operation of a DRAM is characterized by “opening” and “closing” a bank of the memory. The process is similar for both reading and writing, and for simplicity, the process will be described as reading, without intending to limit the generality of the description. Prior to executing a read command, the memory bank must be “opened.” A row of the memory bank remains open for accesses to data stored in the row of the memory bank until the bank is closed, or deactivated by a PRECHARGE command. The PRECHARGE command must be issued before opening a different row in the same bank, or another bank. Depending on the design of the computer operating system, and other factors, a bank may be left in the active state after a read operation, closed after a read operation, or a combination of either operation, depending on other system parameters.

The PRECHARGE command may be used to deactivate the open row in a particular bank, or the open row in all banks. After a time interval t_(RP) (typically 20 ns), the banks will be available for a subsequent row access.

In order to maintain the integrity of the data, each of the rows of a DRAM memory circuit needs be refreshed periodically, or at least once during a specified time interval in order to avoid data loss or corruption. As specified for the Micron memory circuit, and for a case temperature less than 85° C., each of the rows is refreshed at least once about every 64 ms (t_(REF)). Two different forms of refresh command may be used: AUTO REFRESH and SELF REFRESH. The AUTO REFRESH command is non persistent, and for a 512 MB DRAM, 8, 192 AUTO REFRESH commands, which may be issued as individual commands every 7.81 μs, will meet the specified refresh requirement and ensure that each row is refreshed. In an alternative, bursts of AUTO REFRESH commands may be issued at a minimum cycle rate interval (t_(RF)).

The address of the row to be refreshed may be generated internally to the memory circuit and may not need to be provided by the local controller, memory controller or other external device. On the other hand, a PRECHARGE command and an address provided externally will accomplish a similar objective, but may have greater overhead.

The SELF REFRESH command can be used to retain the data integrity in the DRAM, even if the rest of the memory system is in a lower power state. That is, when in a self-refresh mode, the DRAM retains data without an external stimulus. Once the self-refresh mode is engaged, the DRAM provides its own internal clocking so as to perform refresh cycles. However, the DRAM may need to remain in the self-refresh mode for a minimum period, which may be up to about 2 μs.

During self-refresh mode, the memory circuit cycles through the DRAM array, performing the minimum refresh activity necessary to maintain the data. To accomplish this, the memory circuit maintains an internal row/bank address counter that is not accessible to the memory controller. Upon exiting the self-refresh mode, the memory controller is not aware of which row was last refreshed in self-refresh mode, and consequently cannot continue explicit refresh operations unless it first performs a burst refresh to every row in sequence. While this situation may be accommodated in applications where the objective of the self-refresh mode is to place the memory circuit in a low-power-consumption mode for an extended period of time, such as for a portable apparatus, the need for a burst refresh every time a self-refresh mode is interrupted for a read or a write operation introduces substantial overhead.

The electrical current requirements of a memory circuit vary considerably between the various modes of operation. For example, the average current in the SELF REFRESH or in STANDBY modes may be about 6 mA, while the operating current during a read or write operation may be about 115 mA or more. When the memory is in an active standby mode the operating current may be about 45 mA. The power consumption of a memory circuit may thus be reduced, when not reading or writing data, by operating the memory circuit either in SELF REFRESH mode, or in STANDBY or ACTIVE STANDBY mode with a wake-up to perform AUTOREFRESH.

When describing higher power states and lower power states, the term is intended to be understood as a relative term, with respect to the particular electronic component being discussed. A lower power state of one type of component may be higher in quantitative power consumption than a high power state of another type of electronic component. Also, some low power states may have a low average power consumption, with occasional high power consumption intervals. One such example may be the state where a memory circuit has the clock disabled (CKE low) and the clock is periodically enabled (CKE high) so that an AUTORFRESH command may be executed, and the clock then disabled again.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the states of a memory circuit some of which may result in a lower overall power consumption. When a read or a write operation is not in progress, the memory circuit may be in an idle state (MI). During a MI state the command line CKE may be low, which would disable internal circuitry so as to save reduce power consumption. On a periodic basis, such as approximately every 7.81 μs, the CKE may be high so as to enable the internal circuitry, and a AUTO REFRESH command issued so as to refresh a row of one or more banks of the memory circuit. The memory circuit is then returned to the MI state by returning the CKE to a low state. This sequence of operations results in the periodic refresh of each of the rows of the memory circuit within the specified time for maintaining the integrity of the stored data. Other sequences of issuing an AUTO REFRESH command may be used, including bursts of AUTO REFRESH commands, so long as the overall effect is to refresh each of the rows within the specified time period.

When the CSE on the memory module has received an instruction that a read or write operation is to be performed on a memory circuit of the memory module, the CSE issues commands so as to make an appropriate addressed row of the memory circuit active. To use the terminology of the JEDEC standard, a /RAS command is asserted. The “/” is intended to be read as an overscore, and interpreted to mean that the command is asserted by a low data state on the command line. In the active state, the selected row is available for reading or writing and the function is selected by asserting /CAS+/WE for a write operation, or /CAS for a read operation. Upon completion of the operation, or a sequence of operations on a row of the memory circuit, the row is closed by a PRECHARGE command, which returns the memory circuit to an idle state.

The PRECHARGE command may issue as a result of the CSE issuing a /RAS+/WE command or where the read or write command included an AUTO PRECHARGE command.

AUTO REFRESH commands may be issued by the CSE, based on the state of the CSE, and active connectivity between the individual memory modules MM and the memory controller MC need not be maintained in order to manage the refreshing of the memory circuits. The individual memory modules MM may manage the refreshing of the associated memory circuits M depending on the usage of the memory circuits. The usage of the memory circuits is dependent on the data required to be read or written, for example, by the CPU, or by an external device.

In an example, the memory module of FIG. 4 may have 6 groups of memory circuits each having the ability to store 1 GB of data, so that the total memory capacity of the MM is 6 GB. Each of the memory circuit groups may have a memory bandwidth of 3200 MB/s. If the bus between the memory modules has a capacity of 16 GB/s, then a single group of memory circuits does not produce a sufficient data rate to occupy the entire bus capacity. However, where 5 of the 6 memory circuit groups were being read simultaneously, then the bus capacity would be reached. In this example, only one of the memory modules of the tree of memory modules is sufficient to satisfy the bus capacity at the root. Thus, the other memory modules MM in the memory system may be in states where at least one of the CSE (which includes the bus interface) or the memory circuits M are in an idle state.

The example has been simplified by describing the memory circuits being read as being on a single memory module, however, a person of skill in the art would recognize that the memory circuits being read may be distributed so as to be located on a plurality of memory modules MM.

In another example, the data for a cache line or other data size may be stored in a RAIDed fashion; for example, in a RAID 4+1 architecture, as shown in FIG. 7. The data is distributed over 4 separate memory modules, and a parity calculation may be performed as an exclusive-OR operation over the data so as to store the parity data in a fifth module. This method of storing data permits the recovery of the data if any one of the five modules fails, or the data is lost for another reason. In such a system, each read request for a cache line would result in activating five memory modules, rather than the one module in the previous examples. However, except for the increase in the amount of data resulting from the storage of the parity information, the overall data rate is unchanged, and therefore the individual memory circuits may be active for a shorter period of time.

This discussion does not take into account changes in the overhead associated with an increased number of commands, error checking and the like, but suggests that the performance and power consumption of a RAIDed system should be similar to that previously described. The actual performance obtained would depend on the loading models, block sizes accessed, and the like.

In an aspect, a memory module MM of a memory system may schedule and perform refresh operations on the memory circuits M independently of the memory controller MC. The local controller, such as the CSE may initiate or control the refresh operations for memory circuits associated therewith based on, for example, the lack of pending or forecast read or write operations. The refresh operations may be performed in a periodic sequence, or as a burst mode where a plurality of memory refresh operations are performed in rapid sequence. Such a burst sequence may be used to minimize the interaction between the refresh operations and the read or write requests. As such, each of the memory modules may schedule the refresh operations for the memory circuits associated with the module without synchronization with the memory controller.

As shown in FIG. 7, in an aspect such as where the memory is operated as a RAIDed memory, a memory module may be associated with a position in a RAID group where the operation of the individual memory modules MM or memory circuits M is synchronized such that, for example, in a 4+1 RAID configuration such as described in U.S. Ser. No. 12/079,364, four of the five memory modules may be immediately accessed for a read operation. In such a configuration, a group of memory modules may be synchronized by a memory controller MC so that only one of the memory modules associated with the RAID group is performing refresh operations at any time (or in the case of flash memory, erase or programming operations). Such refresh operations may be performed in a bust mode, rather than at a uniform periodic interval over the refresh interval (t_(REF)). The memory module performing the refresh operations may not return data in response to a read request if the refresh operations are in progress at the time of the request. However, by using the data recovery properties of RAID configuration, the requested data may be available without an increase in latency. As described in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/079,364 where a 4+1 RAID configuration is employed, 4 of the 5 memory modules MM would be available for any read operation. Should the fifth memory module that is not available have information designated as data rather than parity information, the parity information, which would be available from one of the 4 modules being read maybe used to reconstruct the data using an XOR computation. When the memory modules have DRAM memory circuits as the memory circuits, the interval during which the refresh operations are performed may be shorter than t_(REF).

The refresh operations of a group of the memory modules MM may be scheduled by the memory controller MC so as to associate the memory modules with RAID groups. Alternatively, individual memory circuits M may be associated with RAID groups and the refresh timing of each of the memory circuits in the group may be controlled so as to provide immediate access to at least the minimum number of memory circuits so as to reconstruct the RAIDed data.

In a typical DRAM circuit, the memory needs to be entirely refreshed about every 64 msec by specification, in order to avoid loss of data. This is termed the static refresh time or refresh interval, and may be performed by distributing the refresh operations so that a refresh operation is performed every 7.81 usec. However the time to perform the refresh operation is approximately 75 nsec. As such, up to about 104 refresh operations could be performed during the inter-refresh interval of 7.81 usec associated with one distributed refresh interval. Only about 80 such burst intervals may be needed during a 64 msec period.

As four of the five memory modules in a RAID group are always available for reading, the effect of refreshing the DRAM memory is not apparent with respect to any read operation. The maximum latency for a write operation may be a single distributed refresh interval for one of the modules. Alternatively, the burst refresh operation may be suspended whenever there is a pending write request. In another aspect, a plurality of smaller bust refresh operations may be scheduled so that they may be completed without significant effect on the write latency. In this manner, the effect of the refresh operations for volatile memory on the read or write latency may be minimized or avoided.

In an analogous manner, when flash memory is used, lower power states of the memory module MM may be used for housekeeping operations such as memory scavenging, testing, or the like, when read or write operations on the local memory are not being performed in response to requests by the memory controller MC.

FIG. 8 is an example of a memory system having a plurality of modules and connected in a tree-like architecture. Each of the memory modules MM is numbered, with numbers from 0 to 83, and the interconnections between memory modules MM shown as lines connecting each of three ports, which may be bidirectional ports, on each module, to other modules. The details of this arrangement may be found in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/405,083. As configured, the memory system has six root memory modules, which are those numbered 14, 15, 16, 41, 43 and 68, connecting to a memory controller having ports A-E, so as to maintain connectivity in the event of a module failure and to permit hot-swapping of failed memory modules. In an aspect, a high speed bus may be used such that a mixture of memory types may be employed in the memory modules, and the interface characteristics harmonized by a controller on the module. The controller may be a CSE.

Each of the memory modules MM 0-83 may be operated such that the refreshing of the memory on modules is performed independently of each of the other modules, and without continual transmission of commands from the memory controller. Alternatively, groups of memory modules may have refresh or erase operations, for example, synchronized or scheduled, as has been described, so as to reduce the latency for read or write operations on the memory when the memory is operated, in whole or in part, as a RAIDed storage device.

A plurality of connections, which may be a PCI Express or other interface may be provided between the memory controller MC and one or more computers. The memory controller may be a plurality of memory controllers so as to provide for redundancy in case of a hardware failure. The connectivity of the modules, memory controllers, and computer interfaces may be arranged so as to permit reconfiguration of the data paths in the event of a hardware failure, and may permit the replacement of a failed module without taking the memory system out of service.

In a memory system, such as in the example of FIG. 8, not all of the memory modules MM may be active. This may arise if the computer systems using data from the memory system do not have a high demand for the data being stored in the memory system, or, if the bandwidth of the data bus at various places in the memory system is filled by the data rate of memory modules responding to read or write commands. Where one or more of the modules is not in a state where the module is being read from or written to, the module may be in a state of lower power consumption, as described previously. In an aspect, each memory module may be considered to be in a lower power state when the associated memory circuit on the memory module is idle, or being refreshed by a AUTOREFRESH or similar function. The memory module may be in another form of lower power consumption state where the memory module interface is not engaged in processing or forwarding commands or data to other modules, either upstream or downstream from the subject memory module.

A memory module may thus be configured to be in a lower power consumption state, and transition into an appropriate higher power state for the purposes of, for example, a read or write operation on the memory of the memory module, or the pass data or commands from one memory module to another, or to the memory controller. A memory module entering the higher power state may remain in that state until completion of the commanded operation, such as reading data, and then assess the operational requirements of the memory module. Providing that no further read or write operations are pending, and that the refresh status of the memory modules is satisfactory, the memory module may enter a lower power state. During the lower power state, the refresh operations for the memory circuit may be performed as required by, as previously described, in an example, by enabling the memory clock and issuing an AUTOREFRESH command or similar function.

Thus, whether the memory module is in a high power state or a lower power state is may be data dependent result, and the status of memory modules may change dynamically. However, as the memory module may transition to a lower power state when not responding to demands for service, the overall power consumption is reduced. This is accomplished while maintaining an appropriate refresh rate so as to avoid data loss. Where a plurality of memory modules are incorporated in a memory system, the modules may be arranged so that the determination of the power status, or the timing of refresh operations are autonomous of each other.

The required refresh interval for a DRAM memory circuit specified by the manufacturer may be at a maximum operating temperature, with larger refresh intervals being possible at lower operating temperatures. An appropriate refresh rate may be determined based on the temperature of a module of a group of modules, a maximum temperature of any module of a group of modules, or the like, depending on whether the refresh rate determination is made locally to a module or based on a more global temperature measurement. Where a more global determination of temperature is made, the temperature or other parameter controlling the refresh rate may be signaled to a module.

Commands initiated by the memory controller may be used to activate memory modules, either partially or fully by sending a precursor command to the memory module so as to minimize latency in responding to the command once it is received. However, the transition to a lower power state may be accomplished independently by each memory module as the considerations involved are local to the memory module.

In an aspect, a method of operating a memory system may include providing a plurality of memory modules, the memory modules connectable to a memory controller though a data bus. Each of the memory modules may have a bus interface, a local controller and local memory. The memory may be used to store, data and instructions for access by a processor through the memory controller, or may be used locally by the memory module. Each memory module may determine the nature of the data or commands received from the memory controller, directly or indirectly, or from other memory modules. The commands may be for a read or write operation to be performed on the memory of the memory module, and the associated data, or may be data or commands for use by other memory modules, and where the present memory module is used to relay the information to another module.

Where there is no data to be written or read from the present memory module, at least some of the electronic circuits of the memory module may be placed in a lower power state. Such a state may include an “off” state or a state where the circuit is in an idle more, either in whole or in part. After performing a read or a write operation, the memory module may enter a lower power state. One such state places the memory circuit in an “idle mode”. Periodically, during the idle mode, the clock circuit of the memory circuit may be enabled and a refresh command issued by the local controller. The number and timing of such commands may be controlled so as to meet a refresh timing requirement for the specific memory circuits being used. Where the commands are issued individually in a periodic manner, the clock circuit of the memory circuit may be again disabled so as to enter the idle state.

Where there is not data to be relayed, or scheduled to be relayed to another module, and there are no pending read or write operations on the present module, other aspects of the module circuits may be placed in a lower power state, which may include suspending or reducing the rate of certain clocks, disabling some or all of the bus interface or the like.

In another aspect, the erase of flash memory may be coordinated by the memory controller, such that a group of memory modules may be associated with a RAID group so that the data and parity may be stored on the modules. The controllers of the memory modules associated with a RAID group may be commanded by the memory controller to operate with respect to a common time base such that one of the memory modules is performing an erase operation, while the remaining memory modules are inhibited from performing an erase operation, so that sufficient data may be immediately read from the remaining modules so as to reconstruct the data stored in the RAID group. The erase operations of the memory modules in the RAID group are scheduled such that only one of the modules in an N+1 raid group performs an erase at any time.

Alternatively, when a first memory module in a RAID group completes performing an erase operation, status information may be sent to another module in the RAID group so that an erase operation may be initiated. This may be thought of as an erase enable token and be passed by members of the RAID group. Thus, when an erase operation on one of the memory modules of the RAID group is not needed at a current time, other memory modules may be enabled to perform erase operations.

Where the terms CPU (central processing unit), processor, controller, computer, or the like are used herein, they may generally be used interchangeably. These terms have come to mean a digital computing device capable of executing program instructions so as to configure the electrical circuits of the devices to perform functions dependent on the instructions, or data, and the size, speed, internal memory capacity (if any) are subject to a wide variety of configurations, depending on the manufacturer of the devices and the specific arrangement chosen by a designer.

Alternatively, some or all the operations might be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic or firmware instructions for performing the operations described, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components, which may include analog circuits.

The methods described herein may be provided, at least in part, as a computer program product that may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform the methods. For the purposes of this specification, the terms “machine-readable medium” shall be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructions or data for execution by a computing machine or special-purpose hardware and that may cause the machine or special purpose hardware to perform any one of the methodologies or functions of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, magnetic memories, optical memories, and carrier wave signals. The description of a method as being performed by a computer should not preclude the same method being performed by a person.

For example, but not by way of limitation, a machine readable medium may include read-only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM) of all types (e.g., S-RAM, D-RAM. P-RAM); programmable read only memory (PROM); electronically alterable read only memory (EPROM); magnetic random access memory; magnetic disk storage media; flash memory; or electrical, optical, acoustical data storage medium, or the like.

While the methods disclosed herein are described and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these steps may be combined, sub-divided, or reordered to from an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of steps is not a limitation of the present invention.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A memory module, comprising: a controller configured to initiate an autorefresh operation and to provide a clock signal and a clock control; and a plurality of volatile dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuits, each DRAM circuit having: a clock signal input; and a clock control comprising a state of enabled or disabled and the clock control is set to enabled during performance of a write operation, or a read operation, wherein when the controller determines that the state of the clock control of the DRAM circuit is disabled and an autorefresh operation is to be performed, the state of the clock control is set to enabled and an autorefresh operation command is issued by the controller to the DRAM circuit to initiate an autorefresh operation of the DRAM circuit, and the state of the clock control is set to disabled after completion of the autorefresh operation; and, a transition between any one of the write operation, the read operation, or the autorefresh operation is made without performing a selfrefresh operation; and wherein the clock control state is disabled without performing a concurrent selfrefresh operation for the DRAM circuit.
 2. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the state of the clock control of a first DRAM circuit of the plurality of DRAM circuits is independent of the state of the clock control of a second DRAM circuit of the plurality of DRAM circuits.
 3. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the autorefresh operation of a first DRAM circuit of the plurality of DRAM circuits is independent of the autorefresh operation of a second DRAM circuit of the plurality of DRAM circuits.
 4. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the autorefresh operation is a plurality of autorefresh operations.
 5. The memory module of claim 1, wherein a time interval between autorefresh commands issued by the controller is determined based on a temperature of the DRAM circuit.
 6. The memory module of claim 5, wherein each DRAM circuit has a current temperature and the time interval depends on a highest current temperature of the plurality of DRAM circuits on the memory module.
 7. The memory module of claim 1, wherein the autorefresh operation is performed by issuing periodic autorefresh commands.
 8. The memory module of claim 1, wherein a plurality of memory modules are connectable to a bus, and autorefresh operations of a first memory module are independent of autorefresh operations of a second memory module.
 9. A method of managing a memory system, the method comprising: providing a plurality of memory modules, the modules having a bus interface, a memory circuit, and a controller; providing a bus, the bus providing connectivity between a root memory module of the plurality of memory modules and a memory controller, such that a first memory module and a second memory module of the plurality of memory modules are connected to the root memory module by the bus; and for each of the first memory module and the second memory module, determining using the controller at the respective memory module: if a read or a write operation is being performed on the memory circuit of the memory module, setting a clock control state to enabled during performance of a write operation, or a read operation; or if a read or a write operation is not being performed setting the dock control state to disabled; determining whether an autorefresh operation is needed to maintain validity of data stored in the memory module; and if an autorefresh operation is required, setting the clock control state to enabled and issuing an autorefresh command to the memory circuit; and, a transition between any one of the write operation, the read operation, or the autorefresh operation is made without performing a selfrefresh operation; and wherein the clock control state is disabled without performing a concurrent selfrefresh operation for the memory circuit.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether data is being transmitted to another memory module, or is expected to be received from another memory module, and placing one or more bus interfaces of the memory module in a low power state when no data is being transmitted, or expected to be transmitted.
 11. A computer program product, stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory, comprising: instructions executable by a controller of a memory module to: determine if a read or a write operation is requested or in progress on a volatile dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory circuit of the memory module; and, when the read or the write operation is neither requested nor in progress: set a clock state of the DRAM memory circuit to disabled; determine if the DRAM memory circuit should be refreshed if the DRAM memory circuit should be refreshed, set, the clock state to enabled and issue an autorefresh command to the DRAM memory circuit; set the clock state to disabled when an autorefresh operation in response to the auto refresh command has been completed; or, if the DRAM memory circuit should not be refreshed, continue to determine if the read or write operation is requested or in progress, wherein the autorefresh operation is performed in response to the autorefresh command; and, a transition between any one of the write operation, the react operation, a the autorefresh operation is made without performing a selfrefresh operation; and wherein the dock state is disabled without performing a concurrent selfrefresh operation for the DRAM memory circuit.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to issue a sufficient number of autorefresh commands during a predetermined time interval to maintain validity of data stored in the DRAM memory circuit.
 13. The computer program product of claim 11, where a maximum number of consecutive autorefresh commands is equal to the plurality of rows of the memory circuit.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the clock control state is set to enabled during consecutive autorefresh commands.
 15. A method of managing a memory system, the method comprising: providing a plurality of volatile dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory circuits, each memory circuit capable of performing an autorefresh operation and capable of receiving a clock signal and a dock state, wherein the clock state is enabled during a time period where a read or a write operation is being performed and is disabled when the step of performing the read operation or the write operation has been completed; providing a processor communicating with the DRAM memory circuits; determining using the processor, if a DRAM memory circuit of the plurality of DRAM memory circuits is performing the read operation or the write operation; and if the DRAM memory circuit is not performing the read operation or the write operation: setting the clock control state to enabled and issuing an autorefresh command; setting the dock state to disabled in response to completion of performing an autorefresh operation in response to the autorefresh command; or, if the memory circuit is performing the read or the write operation; waiting for the read operation or the write operation to complete; and repeating the step of determining, wherein, a transition between any one of the write operation, the read operation, a standby operation, or the autorefresh operation is made without performing a self-refresh operation; and wherein the clock state is disabled without performing a concurrent selfrefresh operation for the DRAM memo circuit.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the autorefresh command is a plurality of autorefresh commands to be performed prior to setting the clock control state to disabled. 